Daimler is open to new approaches to grow its business and has even discussed with Volkswagen, BMW and Fiat about developing a common small car platform, remarked chief executive Dieter Zetsche. "When we were planning the current generation of front-wheel drive vehicles we were entertaining a number of discussions with BMW, with Fiat, with VW to check whether it makes sense to do something together," Zetsche said.

He remarked that Daimler eventually concluded that it would not gain much from such cooperation, which would only be marginal. Zetsche indicated that he was open to considering broader strategic steps during the remainder of his term in office.

"If we were to just continue to do our homework, and not develop more elements going forward, we definitely would fall back," Zetsche remarked. Zetche’s contract as Daimler CEO ends in 2016. He noted that he was currently satisfied with Daimler's existing operations.

"A very significant part of our task is strategic and to see what kind of future challenges will develop and what opportunities we see on the horizon, and try to further develop our business," he explained.

He remarked that there would be times that Daimler would announce further building blocks of its further development. In 2010, Daimler signed an industrial partnership deal with Renault and Nissan. AutoWeek has reported that the third-generation Renault Twingo, the new Smart ForTwo and second-generation Smart ForFour will be underpinned by a new rear-wheel-drive platform with engineering led by Smart.